Peter Tomasello, Jr was born in Abbeville, La. to Peter and Dora Tomasello on August 6, 1937. At an early age, his family moved to Beaumont, Texas, where he grew up. He attended St. Anthony School and was very active in sports. He played in the 1955 state championship football game won by St Anthony. He graduated in 1956.
After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force and spent four years Active Duty and two years in the Reserves.
After leaving the service, he attended Lamar State College of Technology and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Industrial Electronics.
While attending Lamar, he met Joann Albanese and they were wed on Nov. 18, 1961. A year later they were blessed with a son, Jude and two years later they had a little girl, Mary Ann. Sadly, when Mary Ann was 3 she became ill and passed away. This was undoubtedly the most difficult time of their young life. But faith in God and the love and support of family and friends helped them through this difficult time.
In 1969, JoAnn and Pete were again blessed with a little girl, Gina, and two more years later, another girl, Lesli, was born. Pete enjoyed many happy years going to his kid’s baseball and football games, dancing school, Westernaires, and the many other activities that made him so proud of his children. From Pete and JoAnn’s love came the wonderful children and grandchildren that were their everything - Jude and Melinda Tomasello, their children Michael and his wife Charlotte, and Jaclyn Tomasello; Gina and Kevin Stampley, their children Kendyl and fiance’ Zach Wiggins, and Marissa Romero; Lesli and Steve Klekar, Delaney, and Kyle.
Pete was employed at Bayer-Polysar in Orange for 30 years as a maintenance supervisor. He retired in 1999, became a Master Gardner, and started fruit trees in his yard. He gave many people the beautiful oranges, grapefruit, satsumas, pecans and anything else he grew. He loved to go hunting, especially deer hunting with his Brother in Law, Don Albanese. It was a special time for him. He was active in the Knights of Columbus for many years and served as their Grand Knight for a period. Always looking to give back, he managed the Hospitality Center in Port Arthur for ten years, feeding the homeless and less fortunate seven days a week.
A gathering of family and friends will be held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at Melancon~Levingston Funeral Home in Nederland, Texas beginning with a Rosary at 4:30pm, followed by the visitation from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Port Neches, Texas on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 beginning at 10:00am with Father Jim McClintock, Celebrant. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont, Texas.
He was a loving, thoughtful, husband, and father. His family meant the world to him and we will always have these great memories of our hero.